I stared at Isaiah, my thoughts swirling like a tornado. How had we gotten ourselves tangled up in this mess? And how the hell were we going to get out of it?
“Thank you, Isaiah. I appreciate your hard work. Now we need to figure out our next move.”
Isaiah nodded, his expression full of sympathy. “I just wanted to make sure you knew what you’re dealing with, Ty. This won’t be an easy fight.”
“Thanks for the heads-up,” I said. While Isaiah and Bryce continued discussing the situation, I pulled out my phone, desperately trying to reach Liza, but she didn’t answer. I tried Robin, the head of Liza’s security detail, but still no response.
Panic clawed at my throat, and I moved farther away from the police station without a word, leaving Isaiah and Bryce behind. I had to get to Liza. I had to make sure she was safe.
“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, feeling the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Surely she was safe at the estate. Nico was there, along with a veritable army of guards. I tried calling her again, my heart hammering in my chest when the phone went unanswered once more.
“What’s wrong?” Bryce moved closer, his eyes narrowed as he watched me intently.
“Something doesn’t feel right. I can’t get a hold of Liza.”
“Maybe she’s just busy,” Isaiah suggested, though I could hear the uncertainty in his voice.
“I hope that’s it.” I knew better than to ignore my instincts, especially when it came to Liza’s safety. I dialed the number for the guard’s office at the estate, praying that one of them would pick up. “Come on, come on,” I muttered, my unease growing when the call went unanswered. My anxiety was a living, breathing being.
“Fuck!” I snarled, feeling my control slipping away as my wolf threatened to surface. “No one’s answering.”
In a last-ditch effort, I tried calling Dad, hoping he’d be at home and could run over to the estate to check on everyone. No answer. I ran to my car and jumped in, speeding out of the parking lot, leaving Bryce and Isaiah behind with no explanation.
94
LIZA
After Ty left, I trudged to the entertainment room where Sabrina had been instructed to stay. With each tentative step, my eyes darted back and forth between the contrast of the pristine walls and the wet floor that the staff diligently scrubbed to get rid of the blood. My nose wrinkled at the lingering metallic scent in the air, a reminder of the fact my husband had almost murdered a man before my fucking eyes.
Maximus’s faint screams echoed from the direction of the basement, or maybe it was just my imagination playing tricks on me, just like the mysterious voice that haunted my thoughts. My life had been turned upside down in the past few days, and I was struggling to process everything. It was as if my brain was kicking into survival mode, almost like autopilot. I didn’t want to think about any of it.
When I finally reached the entertainment room, I found Sabrina curled up on the couch next to the fireplace. Her petite frame was dwarfed by the plush cushions, and she rubbed her arms like she was cold, despite being only a few feet from the blazing fire. I sat next to my best friend and reached for herhand. Our fingers intertwined, and we sat in companionable silence, staring into the dancing flames.
“I guess you’re staying here tonight,” I said at last, breaking the quiet. “There are probably a hundred men standing guard, so it’s safe.” As the words left my lips, I realized I was trying to convince myself as much as Sabrina.
She scoffed, her blue eyes narrowing skeptically. “Safe? Am I truly safe from the animal being held hostage in your basement?”
“Maximus is locked up behind bars until Ty and his council can deal with him.” I hoped she could hear the conviction in my voice.
Sabrina shifted on the couch to face me, her expression incredulous. “This is all so weird, Liza. Your life has turned into some sort of basic cable drama shit. You know the type—bad acting, lots of fake blood, and a plot that thickens with each episode.”
I sighed. I couldn’t argue with her. The scene outside the door could’ve been taken straight out of a horror movie. “I know.” A pang of guilt speared into my stomach. I had inadvertently dragged her into this mess.
“Did you ever think your life would turn out like this?” she asked.
“Never in my wildest dreams.” I shook my head. “But I can’t change what’s happened, Sabrina. All I can do is try to protect the people I care about.”
“Like Ty?” she probed gently, raising an eyebrow.
“Ty has his own share of burdens,” I said defensively, feeling a sudden need to protect him as well. “He’s trying to do what’s best for everyone, even if it means locking up a fellow alpha.”
“Does that include you, too, Liza?” Sabrina pressed, her eyes searching mine for answers. “Is he doing what’s best for his mate?”
“Of course, he is. You might not see it, but I’m with Ty all the time. He wants nothing more than to protect me, even if that looks like something else to you.”
“Promise me something.” Sabrina gripped my hand tightly. “Promise me that you won’t let this change who you are. You’re strong, independent, and you don’t need some wolf shifter to protect you.”
“I’m not going to change,” I promised her, although a part of me wondered if that was even possible anymore. My life had been irrevocably altered, and there was no going back.
